How Much Vitamin D Do Babies and Children Need? NHS Amounts

The NHS says babies from birth to 1 year should have a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if they are breastfed, or formula-fed and having less than 500 ml of infant formula a day; children aged 1 to 4 should be given 10 micrograms a day throughout the year; and children over 4 should consider 10 micrograms a day during the autumn and winter.¹ The upper limits are 25 micrograms a day under 12 months, 50 micrograms at 1 to 10 and 100 micrograms at 11 to 17.¹ This is the children's page of the vitamin D guide, within the vitamins and minerals guide.

How much vitamin D does a baby need?

The NHS: breastfed babies "should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself", and "Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements".^{1, 2} "1 microgram of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU. So 10 micrograms of vitamin D is equal to 400 IU."¹

In a Canadian trial of 132 breastfed babies given 400 to 1,600 IU a day, every dose kept 97% at or above 50 nmol/L, growth and bone did not differ, and the 1,600 IU arm "was discontinued prematurely because of elevated plasma 25(OH)D concentrations".³ The route: "Your health visitor can give you advice on vitamin drops and tell you where to get them", and "You're entitled to free vitamin drops if you qualify for Healthy Start."²

How much vitamin D do children need from 1 to 17?

"Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year." After that, children over 4 "should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter", and throughout the year if they are not often outdoors, usually cover up most of their skin outdoors or have dark skin.¹ The government also "recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day".²

The GB register's two children's wordings, for vitamin D in any form: "Vitamin D is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children" and "Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system in children".⁴

How do I know if my child is lacking vitamin D?

You usually cannot tell by looking, which is why the NHS advises a supplement, not a test. A long shortfall leads to rickets. The NHS: "The main symptom of rickets is having bowed legs"; the others include "swollen, painful wrists" and "difficulty climbing stairs or getting out of a chair because of weak muscles"; "Children with rickets may be small for their age and their teeth may come through later than usual." See a GP if you think so; "they'll check your vitamin D and calcium levels."⁵ No NHS page lists tiredness, hair loss, low mood or frequent colds as signs in a child (signs of vitamin D deficiency has the adult list).

UK surveillance in 2015 to 2017 found 125 cases of rickets, "an annual incidence of 0.48 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.62) per 100 000 children under 16 years", mostly Black or South Asian children, and "77.6% of children were not taking vitamin D supplements despite being eligible".⁶

Which vitamin D is best for children?

The one that delivers the NHS amount for your child's age in micrograms or IU on the label; the form is whatever the child will take. The NHS colecalciferol page lists capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, syrup, oral drops and dissolvable tablets as the same vitamin in different carriers: tablets go "with your main meal of the day" (the best time to take vitamin D), drops "straight into your mouth or onto a spoon".⁷ "Talk to a pharmacist about which supplement would be most suitable for your child."²

On D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (colecalciferol): the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition wrote in 2024 that "Both vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 increase blood 25(OH)D concentrations, and both forms prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency", that daily studies at 5 to 25 µg showed "an advantage of vitamin D3 over D2 in raising blood 25(OH)D concentration of about 8nmol per litre", and that "the difference in estimated effect between the 2 forms may not be reliable".⁸ The NHS: "All types of vitamin D work in this way."⁹ The one infant trial, 52 breastfed babies on 10 µg a day of D2 or D3 for three months, found "the increase in the 25(OH)D concentration among the D2 and D3 groups did not differ, suggesting daily intake of either isoform is acceptable for infants", although more of the D3 group reached 50 nmol/L (96% against 75%).¹⁰ Whichever you choose: "do not give them cod liver oil and vitamin drops because cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D".²

Is too much vitamin D bad for children, and what if I give an extra dose?

Over time it can be; the limits: "Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day. Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day", and the 100 microgram (4,000 IU) limit applies to "children aged 11 to 17 years".¹ A second 10 µg dose by accident makes 20 µg, inside a baby's limit; the NHS says "Unless you're taking a loading dose of vitamin D, as prescribed by your doctor, taking an extra dose is unlikely to harm you." Contact 111 if "your child is between 1 and 10 years of age and has had more than 2,000IU in 1 day" or "your child is under 12 months and has had more than 1,000IU in 1 day". The NHS signs of too much: thirst, passing urine more often, being sick, constipation, confusion, drowsiness and bone or muscle pain.⁷ And: "Keep to the dose recommended on the label, and be careful not to give your child 2 supplements at the same time."² See what you should not take with vitamin D for a child on a regular medicine, and can you take too much vitamin D for adults.

Which foods give children vitamin D?

The NHS lists "oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, trout, herring or mackerel", "red meat", "egg yolks", "fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals" and liver; "In the UK, cows' milk is generally not a good source of vitamin D because it is not fortified".¹ By the UK composition tables, a child's 50 g portion of salmon gives about 4 to 7 µg; one medium boiled egg about 1.6 µg; a 30 g bowl of fortified cereal about 1 to 2.5 µg.¹¹ The NHS: "Young children should still have vitamin drops, even if they get out in the sun."² Which foods are highest in vitamin D ranks the full list.

Do teenagers need vitamin D?

Yes, on the over-4 rule: 10 micrograms a day in autumn and winter, all year in the groups the NHS names, with the 100 microgram (4,000 IU) limit from age 11.¹ Teenagers have the lowest levels in the national survey (2019 to 2023): 23.0% of 11- to 18-year-olds were below 25 nmol/L across the year, against 9.6% of 4- to 10-year-olds (Table 6.9), 35.6% in January to March against 6.5% in July to September (Table 6.15), and 18.5% had taken a supplement over the recording days (Table 5.32d).¹²

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the drops for one day?

Yes. The NHS: "Never take 2 doses at the same time and do not take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one."⁷

When do I stop vitamin D drops?

The amount changes rather than stops: 10 µg all year from 1 to 4, then autumn and winter from age 5; a formula-fed baby's drops stop at more than 500 ml a day.^{1, 2}

What if I never gave my baby vitamin D drops?

Start now at the amount for your child's age; in the infant trial above, levels responded within three months.³ See a GP if your child has any of the signs the NHS lists.⁵

Is vitamin D really necessary for a breastfed baby?

The NHS says it is, "whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself"; 77.6% of the UK rickets cases above were eligible for a supplement and not taking one.^{2, 6} Vitamin D in pregnancy and breastfeeding covers the mother's own 10 µg, and folic acid during pregnancy the other routine supplement.

How do I give drops to a newborn?

With the dropper or syringe supplied; the NHS describes drops going "straight into your mouth or onto a spoon".⁷ Your health visitor can show you.²

Sources

1. NHS. Vitamin D. Reviewed 3 August 2020. nhs.uk.
2. NHS. Vitamins for children. Reviewed 30 May 2024. nhs.uk.
3. Gallo S, et al. Effect of different dosages of oral vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status in healthy, breastfed infants. JAMA, 2013. PubMed 23632722.
4. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register. gov.uk.
5. NHS. Rickets and osteomalacia. Reviewed 9 July 2025. nhs.uk.
6. Julies P, et al. Nutritional rickets under 16 years: UK surveillance results. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2020. PubMed 31949032.
7. NHS. How and when to take colecalciferol. Reviewed 10 January 2023. nhs.uk.
8. Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Fortifying foods and drinks with vitamin D: summary, 23 May 2024. gov.uk.
9. NHS. Common questions about colecalciferol. Reviewed 10 January 2023. nhs.uk.
10. Gallo S, et al. The change in plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D did not differ between breast-fed infants that received a daily supplement of ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol for 3 months. Journal of Nutrition, 2013. PubMed 23256143.
11. McCance and Widdowson's Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset (CoFID), 2021. gov.uk.
12. National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023, data tables 6.9, 6.15 and 5.32d. gov.uk.

Not medical advice: ask your health visitor, pharmacist or GP before giving a child any supplement alongside a medicine.